Device For Manufacturing Organic Compost From Excremet

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to a device for manufacturing organic compost from human excrements in a toilet to automatically transform human excrements into organic compost. More particularly, the present invention comprises a transport belt installed under a seat disposed on a main body of a toilet, capable of transporting excrements; a stirring room mixing with a stirring blade the excrements transported by the transport belt; a microorganism hopper installed on the upper side of the stirring room, feeding microorganisms into the excrements stirred in the stirring room; a muck collector receiving and storing the excrements crushed in the stirring room; a liquid collector receiving and evaporating urine fallen from the transport belt; an air purifying room drying excrements and urine in the main body, purifying and discharging air through an exhaust pipe; and a controller installed at a side of the main body, controlling electrical operation of the above components. The device for manufacturing organic compost from human excrements in a toilet according to the present invention has advantages that water consumption in the toilet is reduced, contamination of water and environment is reduced since excrement treatment/purifying facility is not required, and organic compost for planting crops is also supplied.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a device for manufacturingorganic compost from excrement in a toilet to automatically transformhuman excrements into organic compost and, more particularly, to adevice for manufacturing organic compost from human excrements, byinstalling an excrement transporting device, a stirring room and amicroorganism feeding hopper. The device according to the presentinvention transports human excrements automatically to the stirring roomwithout using water after a toilet is used, and produces organic compostby stirring with microorganisms.

The present invention has advantages that water consumption in arestroom and contamination of water and environment are reduced becauseexcrement treatment and purification devices are not required, andorganic compost for planting crops is manufactured.

BACKGROUND ART

After a toilet is used, human excrements are generally flushed by usingwater to a purification device, stored therein for a predeterminedperiod and delivered to an excrement treatment device to be treated invarious ways.

A restroom should be generally equipped with at least a water tank, atoilet paper and a purification tank. In most restrooms, humanexcrements are treated by water and nationwide water consumption inKorea is estimated to increase by several tens of thousand tons everyyear. Korea is likely to run short of water resources in the nearfuture. Therefore, effective countermeasures should be devised urgently.

Artificial fertilizers are used more often than organic composts forplanting crops because they are easily available and convenient.However, any special countermeasure to prevent soil acidification is notprovided yet.

Human excrements discarded from vessels are regarded as a cause ofcontamination in the ocean, and improper discarding of human excrementsis prohibited by the law.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention is provided to solve the above-mentioned problems.The present invention provides a device for manufacturing organiccompost from human excrement, which is equipped with a transport beltunder the bottom of a seat of a stationary toilet, movable toilet,vessel toilet or airplane toilet, and includes the steps of:transporting the human excrements to a stirring room by the transportbelt; mixing them with microorganisms fed from a microorganism hopperduring stirring to produce organic compost; and drying the organiccompost. The present invention has advantages that human excrements aretreated without using water after a restroom is used, organic compost isproduced, water consumption is reduced and soil acidification isprevented.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

To transform excrements into organic compost, a transport belt 5 isinstalled under a seat 4 disposed on a main body 2 in a toilet 1 totransport the excrements to a stirring room 7, and a stirring blade 8 isinstalled in the stirring room 7 to mix the excrements.

A microorganism hopper 10 is installed on the upper side of the stirringroom to feed microorganisms to excrements in the stirring room, and adischarge blade 9 is installed in a discharge hole to discharge theexcrements crushed in the stirring room to a muck collector 15.

A liquid collector 16 is formed to receive and evaporate urine fallenfrom the transport belt, and an air purifying room 18 is formed todischarge, through a exhaust pipe 17, air that have dried urine andexcrements inside the main body.

A device for manufacturing organic compost from excrement is installedin a toilet to transform excrements to organic compost, and therebyadditional excrement treatment facilities are not required, and cost forexcrement treatment and water used in a restroom is saved.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

The device for manufacturing organic compost is applied to a restroomand has following advantages.

Firstly, installation cost for waste water treatment facilities and apurification tank are saved because additional facilities for wastewater treatment or a purification tank is not required. Secondly, soilacidification is prevented because organic compost is used, and grainsand vegetables good for the health are supplied because crops areplanted by using organic compost. Thirdly, ocean contamination isprevented because the device may be applied to an airplane toilet andvessel toilet. Fourthly, a clean toilet is maintained without anyspecial management, and cost for excrement treatment is saved becausethe device may be applied to toilets in a resting room, campsite andhighway. Fifthly, water resources are saved and reserved in a countryshort of water resources.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a device for manufacturing organic compostfrom excrement according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a microorganism hopper and a stirringroom according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a transport belt according to thepresent invention, transporting excrements to the stirring room.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a microorganism hopper according tothe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a connection between a cover and anactivation switch according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a connection between a stirring blade drivegear and a discharge blade drive gear according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a connection between a sprocket and a hooklever for feeding microorganisms according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a connection between a sprocket and afeeding blade for feeding microorganisms according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a seat and a door for loading andunloading a muck collector according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a feeding blade for feedingmicroorganisms and a seat according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a stirring blade for mixingexcrements and a discharge blade for discharging excrements according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a stirring room having a stirring bladeand a discharge blade according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a handle to operate a transport beltmanually according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a device installed in a restroom formanufacturing organic compost according to an embodiment of the presetinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ELEMENTS IN THE DRAWINGS

-   -   1: toilet 2: main body    -   4: seat 5: transport belt    -   6: roller 7: stirring room    -   8: stirring blade 9: discharge blade    -   10: microorganism hopper 11: hook lever    -   12: rod 13: stopper    -   14: sprocket 15: muck collector    -   16: liquid collector 17: exhaust pipe    -   18: air purifying room    -   20: feeding blade 21: heater    -   22: fan 23: ozone generator    -   24: knife blade 25: spring    -   26: door 27: packing    -   28: activation switch 29: handle    -   30: insertion hole 31: transmission gear    -   32: discharge blade drive gear 33: stirring blade drive gear    -   40: controller

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, structures of a device for manufacturing organic compostfrom excrement and exemplary embodiments of the present invention willbe described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A device for manufacturing organic compost from excrement comprises atransport belt 5 installed under a seat 4 disposed on a main body 2 in atoilet 1, capable of transporting excrements; a stirring room 7 mixingwith a stirring blade 8 the excrements transported by the transportbelt; a microorganism hopper 10 installed on the upper part of thestirring room, feeding microorganisms into the excrements stirred in thestirring room; a discharge blade 9 installed in a discharge hole,discharging into a muck collector 15 the excrements crushed in thestirring room; a liquid collector 16 receiving and evaporating urinefallen from the transport belt; an air purifying room 18 drying theexcrements and urine inside the main body, purifying and discharging airthrough an exhaust pipe 17; and a controller 40 installed at a side ofthe main body, capable of electrically controlling the device.

The device for manufacturing organic compost from excrement includes aplurality of stirring blades 8 in the stirring room to mix theexcrements sequentially.

The stirring room has at least one discharge blade on the bottom thereofto crush and discharge excrements from the stirring room to the muckcollector.

The microorganism hopper has a feeding blade for feeding microorganismson the bottom thereof to feed a predetermined quantity of microorganismto the stirring room.

The microorganism hopper has a hook lever 11 on a side thereof, andfeeds microorganisms to the stirring room by driving a sprocket 14formed on a side of a feeding blade 20, via a stopper 13 connected tothe hook lever.

The air purifying room has a heater on a side thereof to dry excrementsand urine.

The air purifying room has an ozone generator 23 on a side thereof toremove odor generated inside the main body.

The air purifying room has a fan 22 for air suction on the ceilingthereof and a heater 21 on a side of the fan.

The transport belt has rollers 6 at its both ends and at least one knifeblade 24 supported by springs 25 at a side thereof to remove excrementsplaced on the transport belt.

The main body has a door 26 with a sealed packing on the front surfacethereof to load or unload a muck collector.

The main body has an activation switch 28 for driving a transport belton the top surface thereof to contact with a lower part of the rear sideof the seat cover.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the transport belt hasan insertion hole 30 for a handle 29 on a side of a transport roller tooperate the transport belt manually.

A thermostat 34 is provided to control the operation of the fan, and amuck overflow preventer 36 is provided on a side thereof.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a device for manufacturing organic compostfrom excrement according to the present invention. A toilet 1 includes acover 3 and a seat 4 formed on the left top of a main body 2, and amicroorganism hopper 10 on the right top of the main body 2.

If a user lifts the cover 3 of the seat 4 to use the toilet, a lowerpart of the cover presses an activation switch 28 of a transport belt 5installed at the main body under the seat, and operates rollers of thetransport belt 5 to drive the transport belt 5 towards a stirring room7.

A stirring blade 8 installed in the stirring room 7 rotates with theoperation of the transport belt 5 simultaneously.

In the case that a user seats on the toilet and relieve himself afterlifting up the cover 3, excrements are transported to the stirring room7 by the rotation of the transport belt 5, and the stirring blade mixesexcrements 200 in the stirring room.

A plurality of knife blades 24 are installed under the transport belt 5,and remove the excrements 200 remaining on the transport belt 5 to dropthem into the muck collector 15.

If the toilet user rotates the hook lever 11 installed on the frontsurface of the microorganism hopper 10, the hook lever 11 lifts up a rod12 that is movable up and down. A stopper 13 disposed at the lower endof the rod 12 pulls, by a stroke, a sprocket 14 connected to an axis ofa feeding blade 20 which is placed at the lower part of themicroorganism hopper 10, and the feeding blade 20 is rotated by 90degrees to feed microorganisms 100 placed on the feeding blade 20 intothe stirring room 7 to mix and stir with the excrements 200.

An exhaust pipe 17 is attached on the ceiling of an air purifying room18, and an air inlet 17 b is disposed at a side of the exhaust pipe 17.A fan 22 is installed in the air inlet to supply air to the airpurifying room, and a heater 21 is placed under the fan 22 to dry theexcrements 200 stored in the muck collector 15 and urine stored in aliquid collector 16.

An ozone generator 23 is attached on a side of the air purifying room 18to remove odor and sterilize urine and excrements in the main body.

The stirring room 7 and the air purifying room 18 are not separated anda space in the stirring room belongs also to the air purifying room 18.

A discharge blade 9 is formed in a discharge hole 9′ under the stirringroom and controlled at a predetermined time interval by a controller 40which is formed on a side of the stirring room 7. The excrements 200stirred with the microorganisms 100 are discharged to the muck collector15 by the operation of the discharge blade 9.

Driving mechanism of the discharge blade 9 will be described later.

The excrements fallen into the muck collector 15 are stored for apredetermined period, decomposed by microorganisms, dried after themicroorganisms are activated into aerobes by warm air from a heater 21,and finally organic compost is produced.

The muck collector 15 is placed under the stirring room 7, and thelength of the muck collector is the same as that of the bottom of thestirring room plus a half of that of the transport belt 5 to accommodateexcrements and urine. The muck collector 15 may be loaded or unloadedthrough a door 26 formed on the front surface of the main body 2 ifnecessary.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a microorganism hopper and a stirringroom according to the present invention. The microorganism hopper 10 isinstalled on the upper side of the stirring room 7 and the feeding blade20 is formed in a microorganism inlet 20′ on the bottom of themicroorganism hopper 10 to feed microorganisms to the stirring room 7.The stirring blade 8 is installed in the stirring room 7 to mix theexcrements with microorganisms.

The discharge blade 9 is installed in the discharge hole 9′ of thestirring room 7 to discharge the excrements 200 to the muck collector15.

An air outlet 17 a is formed at a side of the ceiling in the airpurifying room to discharge internal air to the outside. An air inlet 17b is formed at another side of the ceiling in the purifying room to flowair into the stirring room through an induction pipe 17 c, and a fan 22and a heater 21 are installed in the air inlet 17 b.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a transport belt transportingexcrements to the stirring room according to the present invention. Thetransport belt is driven by two rollers 6 disposed at its both ends andis inclined to convey the excrements to the stirring room smoothly.

The muck collector 15 is installed under the rear side of the transportbelt 5, and a plurality of knife blades 24 are disposed on the bottomsurface of the transport belt 5 to remove completely excrements left onthe transport belt 15.

Springs 25 are installed to supporters supporting knife blades,corresponding to the rotation of the transport belt.

The knife blades have the same width as that of the transport belt, andthe springs 25 supporting the knife blades are installed at the outsideof the main body.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a microorganism hopper according tothe present invention. A protection cover is provided on the top of themicroorganism hopper 10 and the microorganism inlet 20′ is formedhorizontally under the bottom of the microorganism hopper 10. A feedingblade 20 is installed in the microorganism inlet 20′ in a full width ofthe microorganism inlet along the horizontal direction. A hook leverdisposed on a side of the microorganism hopper moves up and down astopper to drive a sprocket. The microorganism is fed by rotating afeeding blade connected to a side of the sprocket.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a connection between a cover and anactivation switch according to the present invention. In the case that auser opens the cover 3 to use a toilet, the activation switch 28 of thetransport belt is pressed, operates a driving motor installed at a sideof a roller, and the driving motor operates the transport belt.

As already described, the stirring blade in the stirring room isrotating, stirring and crushing excrements, while the discharge blade ina discharge hole is not operating.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a connection between a stirring blade drivegear and a discharge blade drive gear according to the presentinvention. Excrements are stirred with microorganisms by the stirringblade in the stirring room, and discharged into the muck collector 15 bythe operation of the discharge blade disposed in a discharge hole 9′which is driven by connecting a transmission gear 31 between a stirringblade drive gear 33 and a discharge blade drive gear 32.

The transmission gear 31 is movable in a guide hole 35 formed on anouter wall of the main body and the movement of the transmission gear isperformed by an electrical operation (not shown) controlled in a controlbox, and the movable transmission gear 31 conveys the driving force ofthe stirring blade drive gear 33 to the discharge blade drive gear 32.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a connection between a sprocket and a hooklever for feeding microorganisms according to the present invention. Ifa toilet user pulls the hook lever 11 installed on the front surface ofthe microorganism hopper 10 during or after use, the hook lever 11 liftsup the rod 12 connected thereof. The stopper 13 disposed at the lowerend of the rod 12 pulls, by a stroke, the sprocket 14 connected to theaxis of a feeding blade 20, and the feeding blade 20 is rotated by 90degrees to feed microorganisms placed on the feeding blade 20 into thestirring room.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a connection between a sprocket and afeeding blade for feeding microorganisms according to the presentinvention, and shows a perspective view of the connection between thefeeding blade and the sprocket for driving the feeding blade, operatingas explained in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a seat and a door for loading andunloading a muck collector according to the present invention. A door 26is provided in the front surface of the main body, and has aconventional lock system at a side thereof and a packing 27 for airsealing at the internal periphery of the door 26. The muck collector 15is loaded or unloaded through the door 26. Excrements in the muckcollector has already been transformed into organic compost bymicroorganisms and completely dried.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a feeding blade for feedingmicroorganisms and a seat according to the present invention. A feedingblade is formed in a microorganism hopper. An activation switch and aseat are shown, by omitting the cover.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a stirring blade for mixingexcrements and a discharge blade according to another embodiment of thepresent invention. A plurality of discharging blades 9 are installed ina discharge hole 9′ under a stirring blade 8 in the stirring room, andexcrements stirred with microorganisms in the stirring room are crushedbetween the discharge blades while the excrements are discharged into amuck collector 15 through the discharge hole.

Inclination of the transport belt depends on the type of toilet.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a stirring room having a stirring bladeand a discharge blade according to another embodiment of the presentinvention. A stirring blade is located close to the wall of the stirringroom, and a plurality of discharge blades 9 are provided in thedischarge hole under the stirring blade to discharge excrementsdownwards.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a handle to operate a transport beltmanually according to another embodiment of the present invention. Inthe case that electrical operation is stopped due to electric powerfailure while a toilet is used, the transport belt is operated manuallyby a handle 29 installed in an insertion hole 30 located at a roller 6of the transport belt 5.

Namely, even in the case that electrical operation is not possible, atoilet user can operate the transport belt by the handle to transportexcrements to the stirring room, and the toilet may be used without anyproblem.

An electric drive device of the present invention may be modified to usea battery, and the battery may be used in the case of electric powerfailure.

Since the present invention utilizes conventional methods for activatingsensors and drive circuits, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a device installed in a restroom formanufacturing organic compost according to another embodiment of thepreset invention. A plurality of stirring blades are provided in thestirring room to mix excrements with microorganisms, and the excrementsmixed with microorganisms are discharged to the muck collector by adischarge blade.

The device for manufacturing organic compost from excrement according tothe present presentation may be applicable to a stationary toilet, atoilet temporarily installed in a resting room, park, playground andhighway, a vessel toilet, an airplane toilet and a train toilet, andthereby contamination of both water and air may be prevented.

The device for manufacturing organic compost from excrement according tothe preset invention may be installed in an airplane toilet, anocean-going vessel, a coastwise vessel, a fishing vessel and asightseeing vessel, and thereby prevents ocean contamination due toexcrements disposal without permission.

At least one heater may be installed inside the main body of the toiletaccording to the present invention corresponding to the capacity of atoilet.

In the present invention, an ozone generator is installed in an airpurifying room of a toilet, removes odor generated from excrements,sterilizes and discharges air to the outside to prevent aircontamination.

The organic composts manufactured from excrements are collectedseparately, used for planting crops and thereby prevents acidificationof the soil.

In the case that the device for manufacturing organic compost fromexcrement according to the present invention is installed in a publictoilet, hotel toilet and school toilet, a substantial quantity oforganic compost may be produced, sold for planting crops and therebyelectric cost for the operation of the device may be compensated.

Urine collected in a liquid collector 16 is not treated separatelybecause it is evaporated by a heater and discharged through an exhaustpipe.

Although the invention has been described in detail herein, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereindisclosed. Various changes, substitutions and modifications may be madethereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention as described and defined by the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A device for manufacturing organic compost from excrement according tothe preset invention may be installed at home or hotel toilet, a publictoilet and toilets of airplane and vessel.

The present invention may be applied to toilets installed temporarily ata resting room, construction site, performance place and all othertoilets, and organic compost may be manufactured from excrements withoutusing any other treatment devices.

1. A device for manufacturing organic compost from excrement in atoilet, the device comprising: a transport belt (5) installed under aseat (4) disposed on a main body (2) of a toilet (1), capable oftransporting excrements; a stirring room (7) stirring with a stirringblade (8) the excrements transported by the transport belt (5); amicroorganism hopper (10) installed on the upper side of the stirringroom (7), feeding microorganisms to the excrements stirred in thestirring room; a discharge blade (9) installed in a discharge hole (9′)discharging into a muck collector (15) the excrements crushed in thestirring room; a liquid collector (16) receiving and evaporating urinefallen from the transport belt; an air purifying room (18) having an airoutlet and an air inlet on a the top of the main body; and a controller(40) installed at a side of the main body.
 2. The device formanufacturing organic compost from excrement in a toilet of claim 1,wherein at least one stirring blade is installed in the stirring room tostir the excrements sequentially.
 3. The device for manufacturingorganic compost from excrement in a toilet of claim 1, wherein at leastone discharge blade is installed in a discharge hole at the bottom ofthe stirring room.
 4. The device for manufacturing organic compost fromexcrement in a toilet of claim 1, wherein a feeding blade for feedingmicroorganisms is installed in a microorganism inlet at the bottom ofthe microorganism hopper.
 5. The device for manufacturing organiccompost from excrement in a toilet of claim 1, wherein an activationswitch (28) for operating the transport belt is installed on the topsurface of the main body to contact the lower part of the rear side of aseat cover on the main body.
 6. The device for manufacturing organiccompost from excrement in a toilet of claim 1, wherein a heater isinstalled in the air purifying room.
 7. The device for manufacturingorganic compost from excrement in a toilet of claim 1, wherein an ozonegenerator (23) is installed in the air purifying room to sterilize anddisinfect the inside of the main body.
 8. The device for manufacturingorganic compost from excrement in a toilet of claim 1, wherein a fan(22) is installed in an air inlet on the ceiling of the air purifyingroom, the fan being installed with a heater (21) at a side thereof. 9.The device for manufacturing organic compost from excrement in a toiletof claim 1, wherein rollers (6) are installed at both ends of thetransport belt, and at least one knife blade supported by a spring (25)is installed on a side of the transport belt.
 10. The device formanufacturing organic compost from excrement in a toilet of claim 1,wherein a door (26) with a sealed packing is installed at the frontsurface of the main body to load and unload the muck collector in themain body.
 11. The device for manufacturing organic compost fromexcrement in a toilet of claim 1, wherein the toilet is a movabletoilet.
 12. The device for manufacturing organic compost from excrementin a toilet of claim 1, wherein an hook lever (1) installed at a side ofthe microorganism hopper is connected to a rod having a stopper at itslower end, the stopper driving a sprocket (14) formed at a side of amicroorganism feeding blade (20) to feed microorganisms into thestirring room.
 13. The device for manufacturing organic compost fromexcrement in a toilet of claim 1, wherein an insertion hole (30) of ahandle (29) is formed at a side of the roller in the transport belt tooperate the transport belt manually.
 14. The device for manufacturingorganic compost from excrement in a toilet of claim 4, wherein an hooklever (11) installed at a side of the microorganism hopper is connectedto a rod having a stopper at its lower end, the stopper driving asprocket (14) formed at a side of a microorganism feeding blade (20) tofeed microorganisms into the stirring room.
 15. The device formanufacturing organic compost from excrement in a toilet of claim 9,wherein an insertion hole (30) of a handle (29) is formed at a side ofthe roller in the transport belt to operate the transport belt manually.